Franklin County Fiscal Court approves park projects, three grant applications and personnel actions

The Franklin County Fiscal Court voted unanimously on March 4 to approve a series of operational and budgetary actions, including park improvements at 67 Buena Vista Drive, three grant applications to the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, personnel approvals and an interlocal animal-control agreement.

The court, presided over by Judge Michael Mueller, approved using available parkland-development funds to build a driving range (estimated $120,000), a disc-golf course (estimated $40,000) and bridge repairs (estimated $10,000) at 67 Buena Vista Drive. The spending authorizations were offered in motions by Squire J.W. Blackburn or Squire Sherry Sebastian and each passed with all voting members in favor (Squires Sebastian, Blackburn, Harrod, Tanner, Whisman, and Judge Mueller).

The court also authorized three separate resolutions to file applications with the Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet, Division of Waste Management: Resolution #9-2026 to seek 2026–2027 Kentucky Pride Fund Composting Grant funds; Resolution #10-2026 to seek 2026–2027 Kentucky Pride Fund Recycling Grant funds; and Resolution #11-2026 to seek 2026–2027 Household Hazardous Waste Management Grant funds. Each resolution was approved to file applications; grant awards, funding amounts and any required matches were not specified in the meeting record.

Separately, the court accepted the Report of the Audit of the Former Franklin County Sheriff and the Report of the Audit of the Franklin County Clerk for the year ended Dec. 31, 2024. The actions to receive those audits were approved unanimously.

Routine administrative and financial items approved included an agreement with American Legal Publishing and approval to surplus equipment for the Franklin County Fire Department. The court received the Treasurer’s Report and approved budget transfers for fiscal year 2025–2026; the minutes do not list specific transfer amounts or line items.

Following an authorization to enter a closed session under KRS 61.810(1)(c) and (f) to discuss potential litigation and personnel matters, the court returned to open session and approved several road-department and personnel actions. The court authorized resurfacing the road department garage floor; approved the promotion of Dustin Smither from Heavy Equipment Operator to Foreman; and approved a salary increase for Richard Sandifier, Code Enforcement Officer. The minutes do not specify resurfacing costs or the amount of the salary increase.

The court also approved Resolution #12-2026 authorizing the County Judge/Executive to sign an amended interlocal agreement with the City of Frankfort for sharing animal-control services. The motion passed unanimously.

All motions recorded in the minutes carried by unanimous votes of the members present: Squires Sherry Sebastian, J.W. Blackburn, Mike Harrod, Richard Tanner, Eric Whisman and Judge Michael Mueller. No motions to deny claims were offered and bills were ordered paid. The meeting adjourned at 6:59 p.m.

For several items—grant awards, specific surplus equipment, budget transfer amounts and salary figures—the public minutes state only that actions were approved; the details were not specified in the transcript.